A dubious Nigerian man who lied that he was a police officer to extort money from traders has been sent to prison.
*Photo used for illustrative purpose*
An Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday remanded a 50-year-old applicant, Rotimi Ajakaye, at Kirikiri Prisons after he pleaded guilty to charges of extortion and impersonating a policeman.
The Magistrate, Mrs Y.O. Ekogbulu, who gave the ruling, said the accused be kept behind bars pending sentence.
Earlier, Police Prosecutor Clement Okuoimose told the court that the accused, who resides in Agege area of Lagos, committed the offence on Sept. 25 at Ayobo, Lagos.
He said the accused presented himself as a police officer and extorted money from traders in the Hausa community.
“The accused presented himself as a police officer from Ikeja Headquarters and extorted N53,000 from four of the traders.
“He came again after few days and the trader reported him to their leaders who arrested him.
“When he was told to identify himself as a police officer, he had nothing to show and later confessed that he is not a policeman,” he said.
The offences contravened Sections 67 and 78 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Section 78 prescribes a three-year jail term for impersonation.
The case has been adjourned until Oct. 6 for sentence.
-NAN